The NHL's future is in great hands, with players like Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard and jack Hughes ushering in the next great era of hockey. The St. Louis Blues have a number of young up-and-comers themselves, and one is projected to be the cornerstone piece of this franchise's future.
Jimmy Snuggerud is technically a rookie this season despite getting the best kind of experience you can get with the first-round Stanley Cup Playoff loss to Winnipeg in 2024-25. That has definitely had an impact on this season's campaign, as he has been one of the very little highlights.
In terms of the Calder Trophy race, it is a heated battle at the top and Snuggerud is not in the race. He sits just outside of the top-three candidates, and for all intents and purposes, it is really a one-horse race for the rookie of the year. New York Islanders generational talent Matthew Schaefer should be the clear-cut winner, as he has completely taken this league by storm at just 18 years old.
Even though Snuggerud isn't a favorite, the votes he gains could paint a nice picture for next season and beyond.
Snuggerud's future rides on these votes
The Calder Trophy race features Schaefer, Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke and Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov as the top-three nominees. Sennecke has the most points, but Schaefer's lead in goals and his usefulness to the Islanders is a key component in why he should get the nod over the rest of the pack.
Snuggerud sits in fourth-place in points with 37 points following his one-timer snipe against the Washington Capitals in their 3-0 victory on Tuesday night. Looking into a crystal ball, that is likely where he will end up in the Calder votes, behind the three listed above.
Even though he will likely get a majority of fourth-place votes, there is a chance that he could get some runner-up or even first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. That can be a serious confidence booster for the young superstar in the making.